Coupling.



No. 744,506. PATEN'IBD NOV. 17, 1903.

R. M. DIXON.

COUPLING.

APPLICATION rum) JULY a1, 1903.

V WFN M 1 l n I l N VE N TO f I 'IATTOHNEKJ I i I UNITED STATES Iatented hfovember 17, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE. I

ROBERT M. DIXON, OF EAS'I ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SAFETY OAR HEATING AND' LIGHTING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COUPLING. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,506,11at l November 1'7, 1903.

' Application filed July 31,19 03. Serial No. 167,667. (No model.)

My invention relates to couplings, and has for its object to produce a coupling device by which couplings having ports of difiering di-.

ameters may be efficiently coupledv together. In the drawings, Figure I is a coupling in which my invention is illustrated and em bodied, and Fig. II is a face view of a ring-or diaphragm forming part of my invention.

Heretofore devices for effecting the coupling of coupler members having ports of dis-.

' similar diameters have been proposed, and it has been proposed to seat in the bushings of the said couplers supplemental bushings having orifices of the same size This mode of coupling is open to many objections, chief among which is the objection that these supplemental bushings are more-or less-expensive, are inconvenient to carry, and are required to be made in a great number of different sizes.

By my invention I effectthe coupling in a very simple manner by means of a device which can be carried by the. dozen in the pockets of the trainmen and once used is sufficiently cheap to be thrown away. The device will thus commend itself to railroad-men generally.

In the device, a represents a coupler member with a bushing 17. 0 represents another coupler member of a bushing d. The orifice of the bushing b is of less diameter than the orifice of the bushing d, and under ordinary circumstances the two couplerscould not be efficiently coupled. However, in order to provide for the coupling I employ an apertured disk or diaphragm e, preferably of metal-and provided, if desired, with a turned-down rim f, either continuous or interrupted.

. The diaphragm e fits over one of the bushings, preferably the largerbushing d, and having 'an orifice of less 'diameter than that in the larger bushing thebody of the dia phragm'or ring e affords a supplemental bearing-surface for the'face of the smaller bushing-b. It is obvious that the form of this diaphragmmay be changed, and I do not, therefore, limit myself thereto, but'desire to include otherstructures within my claims, the

essential features of the invention being that there shall be a compromise ring or its equivalent havingtherein a smaller orifice than the .port of'the coupler having a larger port and adapted to receive the thrust of the coupler having the smaller port, thus avoiding injury to. the gaskets or bushings and providing means for making a serviceable joint. In the present instance I have shown these diaphrag ms or coupler-rings, by which term I mean to include also devices having openings of forms other than circular, as made of sheet metal with a turned-over edge. These coupler-diaphragms may be carried by the trainmen in their pockets and can be instantly applied and as quickly removed, and

in case of loss the expense of replacing them will be inconsiderable.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a coupling, the combination of a pair of coupler-heads having ports of different areas, and a coupler-diaphragm having an orifice" therein of less area than the larger port and intervening between the two coupler-heads so as to afford a bearing-surface for between the said couplers and affording a forminga bearing-surface for both of the said bearing-surface for the couplers. bushings.

4. In a coupling the combination of a pair of coupler-heads, a bushing in each sof' the ROBERT DIXON 5 said heads, the said bushings having differ- Witnesses:

ent-sized orifices and a c0up1er-diaphragm in- F. E. KESSINGER,

tervening between the said bushings and ELMER E. ALLEN. 

